2010 DODGE VIPER Owners Manual

While the seat belts are designed to protect the driver and
passenger in many types of collisions, the airbags will
deploy in certain frontal collisions depending on the
severity and type of collision. However, even in collisions
where the airbags deploy, all occupants need the seat
belts to keep them in the right position for the airbags to
protect properly.
NOTE:
•The passenger airbag may not deploy if the Occupant
Classification System (refer to “Airbag Deployment
Sensors and Controls”) determines the seat is empty or
is occupied by someone that is classified in the “child”
category. This could be a child, a teenager, or even a
small adult. Therefore, even if the driver’s Advanced
Front Airbag deploys, the passenger’s Advanced Front
Airbag may not deploy.
•Airbag covers may not be obvious in the interior trim;
but they will open during airbag deployment.
•After any accident, the vehicle should be taken to an
authorized dealer immediately.
Airbag System Components
Your vehicle may be equipped with the following airbag
system components:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
•Airbag Warning Light
•Steering Wheel and Column
•Instrument Panel
•Knee Impact Bolster
•Driver Advanced Front Airbag
•Passenger Advanced Front Airbag
•Front and Side Impact Sensors
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45

•Front Seat Belt Pretensioners, Seat Belt Buckle Switch,
and Seat Track Position Sensors
•Occupant Classification System (OCS)
•Occupant Classification Module (OCM)
•Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
•Flex Mat
Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying airbag:
1. An infant up to one year or approximately 20 lbs (9 kg)
should never ride in the vehicle because in the event of a
crash, the rear-facing child seat places them too close to
the passenger airbag.
2. An infant in a rear-facing child safety seat, designed
for a child up to one year or approximately 20 lbs (9 kg),
should never ride in the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger airbag, unless the airbag is shut OFF. An airbag deployment can cause severe injury or death to an
infant in this position. Refer to “Passenger Airbag Dis-
abled (PAD) Indicator Light”.
3. A child who is not big enough to wear the vehicle seat
belt properly should be secured in a child safety seat or
booster seat. (Refer to “Child Restraints”)
4. An older child who does not use a child safety seat or
booster seat should ride buckled properly in their seat.
5. Never allow a child to place the shoulder belt behind
them or under the arm.
6. Never allow a child to lean forward toward the
instrument panel as a passenger airbag deployment
could cause severe injury or death to a child in this
position.
7. For a child from 1 to 12 years old: Move the passenger
seat as far back as possible. For a child from 20 to 60 lbs
(9 kg to 27 kg): Secure them in the appropriate child
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safety seat or booster seat. If too large for a booster seat,
the child should wear the lap/shoulder belt properly.
8. Read the instructions provided with your child re-
straint to make sure that you are using it properly.
9. Read the instructions provided with your child safety
seat or booster seat to make sure that you are using it
properly.
10. All occupants should always wear their lap and
shoulder belts properly.
11. Position the driver seat and passenger seat as far
away from the instrument panel as practical to allow the
airbags room to inflate. Note that the power adjustable
pedals allow for more driver’s seat adjustment options.
Refer to “Adjustable Pedals” in “Understanding The
Features Of Your Vehicle” for details.Airbag Deployment Sensors and Controls
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
TheORC is part of a Federally regulated safety system
required for this vehicle.
The ORC determines if deployment of the front airbags in
a frontal or side collision is required. Based on the impact
sensors signals, a central electronic ORC deploys the
Advanced Front Airbags, as required, depending on the
severity and type of impact. The airbag inflators are
designed to provide different rates of inflation. Based on
the level of collision severity, the ORC determines the
proper rate of inflation. The ORC may modify the rate of
passenger airbag inflation or prevent passenger airbag
deployment based on input from the Occupant Classifi-
cation System (OCS). The ORC will not detect roll-over or
rear impacts.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47

Advanced Front Airbags are designed to provide addi-
tional protection by supplementing the seat belts in
certain frontal collisions depending on the severity and
type of collision. Advanced Front Airbags are not ex-
pected to reduce the risk of injury in rear, side, or rollover
collisions.
The Advanced Front Airbags will not deploy in all frontal
collisions, including some that may produce substantial
vehicle damage — for example, some pole collisions,
truck underrides, and angle offset collisions. On the other
hand, depending on the type and location of impact,
Advanced Front Airbags may deploy in crashes with
little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a severe
initial deceleration.
Because airbag sensors measure vehicle deceleration over
time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are not
good indicators of whether or not an airbag should have
deployed.Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all acci-
dents, and also are needed to help keep you in position,
away from an inflating airbag.
The ORC monitors the readiness of the electronic parts of
the airbag system whenever the ignition switch is in the
START or ON/RUN position. If the key is in the OFF
position, in the ACC position, or not in the ignition, the
airbag system is not on and the airbags will not inflate.
The ORC contains a backup power supply system that
may deploy the airbags even if the battery loses power or
it becomes disconnected prior to deployment.
The ORC turns on the Airbag Warning Light
and Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator
Light for four to eight seconds as a self-check
when the ignition is first turned to ON/RUN.
After the self-check, the Airbag Warning Light will turn
off and the PAD Indicator Light will function normally
(Refer to “Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator
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Light”). If the ORC detects a malfunction in any part of
the system, it turns on the Airbag Warning Light either
momentarily or continuously. A single chime will sound
if the light comes on again after initial startup.
It also includes diagnostics that will illuminate the instru-
ment cluster Airbag Warning Light if a malfunction is
noted that could affect the airbag system. The diagnostics
also record the nature of the malfunction.
WARNING!
Ignoring the Airbag Warning Light in your instru-
ment panel could mean you won’t have the airbags to
protect you in a collision. If the light does not come
on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes
on as you drive, have an authorized dealer service the
airbag system immediately.
Driver Airbag/Passenger Airbag Inflator Units
The Driver Airbag Inflator Unit is mounted in the steer-
ing wheel. The Passenger Airbag Inflator Unit is
mounted underneath a cover in the passenger side of the
instrument panel. When the ORC detects a collision
requiring the Advanced Front Airbags, it signals the
inflator units. A large quantity of non-toxic gas is gener-
ated to inflate the airbags. Different airbag inflation rates
may be possible based on collision severity and occupant
size. The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper
right side of the instrument panel separate and then fold
out of the way, as the airbags inflate to their full size. The
airbags inflate fully in about 50 to 70 ms. This is about
half of the time it takes to blink your eyes. The airbags
then deflate quickly while helping to restrain the driver
and passenger. The airbag gas is vented toward the
instrument panel through vent holes in the airbag mate-
rial. In this way, the airbags do not interfere with your
control of the vehicle.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49

Occupant Classification Module (OCM)
The Occupant Classification Module (OCM) is located
underneath the passenger seat. The OCM uses input
from the Flex Mat to classify the occupant in the passen-
ger seat into a size category. The OCM communicates this
information to the ORC. The ORC may modify the rate of
passenger airbag inflation or prevent passenger airbag
deployment based on occupant classification.
If there is a fault present in the OCS, the Airbag Warning
Light will turn on. This indicates that you should take the
vehicle to an authorized dealer for service. The Airbag
Warning Light will turn on whenever there is a fault
present, which can affect the operation of the airbag
system. If there is a fault present in the OCS, both the
PAD Indicator Light and the Airbag Warning Light will
illuminate to show that the passenger airbag is turned
off. Should this occur the passenger airbag would remain
off until the fault is cleared. If an object is lodged under
the seat and interferes with operation of the Flex Mat, afault will occur which turns on both the PAD Indicator
Light and the Airbag Warning Light. Once the lodged
object is removed, the fault will be cleared automatically
after a short period.
Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light
The Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light
indicates to the driver and passenger when the passenger
airbag is turned OFF. In the presence of an occupant
seated properly in the passenger seat, when the PAD
Indicator Light is illuminated, the passenger airbag is
turned OFF.
The passenger airbag will be enabled for most any size
adult who is seated properly in the passenger seat. The
passenger airbag may or may not be enabled for (de-
pending on size) a small teenager or a small adult who is
seated properly in the passenger seat. The driver and
passenger should always use the PAD Indicator Light as
an indication that the passenger is positioned properly in
50 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

their seat. If the PAD Indicator Light comes on when an
adult or teenager is in the passenger seat, have the
passenger reposition their self in the seat until the light
goes out. Remember, if the PAD Indicator Light is illu-
minated the passenger airbag will not inflate in the event
of a collision.
The passenger airbag will not be enabled for most any
size child who is seated properly in the passenger seat
and for most properly installed child restraint systems.
However, under certain conditions, even with a properly
installed child restraint system, the PAD Indicator Light
may not be on, even though the airbag is disabled. This
can occur if the child restraint is lighter than the thresh-
old weight necessary to turn the PAD Indicator Light on.
In any case, do not assume the airbag is turned off if the
PAD Indicator Light is not illuminated.WARNING!
An infant in rear facing child safety seat, designed
for a child up to one year or approximately 20 lbs
(9 kg), should never ride in the front seat of a vehicle
equipped with a passenger airbag, unless the airbag
is shut OFF. An airbag deployment can cause severe
injury or death to an infant in this position.
Flex Mat
The Flex Mat is located beneath the passenger seat
cushion foam. The Flex Mat sends signals to the OCM for
classifying the occupant in the passenger seat.
Any weight on the seat will be sensed by the Flex Mat.
Therefore, the occupant in the passenger seat needs to sit
in a normal position (with their feet on or near the floor)
in order to be classified properly. If an occupant’s weight
is transferred to another part of the vehicle (like the door
or instrument panel), the system may not classify the
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 51

occupant properly. Furthermore, objects lodged under
the seat can prevent the occupant’s weight from being
measured properly and may result in the occupant being
classified improperly.
The passenger seat assembly contains critical compo-
nents that affect passenger airbag deployment. Correctly
functioning passenger seat components are critical for the
OCS to classify the passenger properly and calculate the
proper airbag deployment. Do not make any modifica-
tions to the passenger seat components, assembly, or to
the seat cover. If the seat, trim cover, or cushion needs
service for any reason, take the vehicle to your autho-
rized dealer. Only manufacturer approved seat accesso-
ries may be used.The following requirements must be strictly adhered to:
•Do not modify the passenger seat assembly or compo-
nents in any way.
•Do not use prior or future model year seat covers not
designated for the specific model being repaired. Al-
ways use the correct seat cover specified for the
vehicle.
•Do not replace the seat cover with an aftermarket seat
cover.
•Do not add a secondary seat cover other than those
approved by Chrysler Group LLC/Mopar.
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